How to find a solicitor

G_M

timmyt wrote: »

Always listen to an Independent Estate Agent as their local ties are very important for their reputation so they use good solicitors. Make sure you get an actual conveyancing solicitor or Legal Executive, nothing less.

Do NOT "Always listen to an Independent Estate Agent". Treat all EAs with caution. Yes, maybe they have helpful ties, maybe they are commission/referral-fee driven.

Review any conveyancer/solicitor yourself and make up your own mind.
Did you get a good impression talking to them?
Are their quotes transparant and reasonable?
If you want to be ble to deal face-to-face, are they local?

Never take anything on trust, make your own decision.

Yorkie1

Also ask whether the same person will be responsible for your file throughout the life of the case, is there an extra charge if you email any queries or ring them (there shouldn't be) and as G-M says, get a feel for them. I spoke to 2 firms to get written quotes, and got a much better 'feel' for one than the other.

womble12345

I would avoid the EAs suggested solicitor, the cost will be about the same but the EA is skimming off the top so the solicitor is getting less money and when you pay less you generally get less. I know this as the buyer of a friends house went with the EAs solicitor and they have been hopeless.

huggermugger

I have to intervene on the conveyancer/estate agent tie-in thing - I have worked as both and in my experience, the larger chains tend to have a financial tie in with a conveyancing firm (usually a large firm not based locally) but the arrangements between independents and local solicitors are largely simply based on an historic good working relationship. The only remuneration tends to be an invite to a party once in a while, sometimes a bottle of wine sent at Christmas. Estate agents generally want the transaction to proceed as quickly as you do (that way they get their comission faster!) so will generally recommend someone that gets on with the job and returns phone calls when progress enquiries are made. So their recommendations are worth listening to - believe me if a solicitor is not getting through their work fast enough or are causing problems in a chain, the agent is the first one to know and to stop recommending them. Equally, solicitors are more likely to take a call from an agent who is known to them and to try to keep them happy. Imo, it is better to use a local solicitor as they know their own area well, which can be invaluable if problems arise during searches etc. And I am old fashioned enough to think that a face to face meeting with your conveyancer is important!

kingstreet

I have to chip in about the "local" thing here too.

I've said it before, so anyone reading it again - apologies.

In one town where I work, the costs all come out just £5 different, even if you get five conveyancing quotes. By getting a quote from a firm one town over, the cost drops by about £100.

In the next town, the same thing happens. Calling from the vicinity of the firm might mean you pay more.

So, my procedure is to, for example, use Stafford solicitors for my Cannock cases and Cannock solicitors for my Stafford cases and I save my clients about £200 on a sale and purchase combined.

TheManwiththeStick

Hope it's okay to jump in with my own question rather than start a new thread (and apologies if it's not...)

I sold my house just under a year ago, and am now looking to buy. I was happy with the way my solicitors handled the sale, and so I'm thinking of going back to them. They seem to work regionally (NE England and parts of the West Midlands), though I'm looking to buy in the East Midlands.

My question.... are there are disadvantages in using a solicitor whose nearest office is about 50 miles away? Other than not being able to drop in to sign documents etc.

Twitter-Salispropnews

huggermugger wrote: »

I have to intervene on the conveyancer/estate agent tie-in thing - I have worked as both and in my experience, the larger chains tend to have a financial tie in with a conveyancing firm (usually a large firm not based locally) but the arrangements between independents and local solicitors are largely simply based on an historic good working relationship. The only remuneration tends to be an invite to a party once in a while, sometimes a bottle of wine sent at Christmas. Estate agents generally want the transaction to proceed as quickly as you do (that way they get their comission faster!) so will generally recommend someone that gets on with the job and returns phone calls when progress enquiries are made. So their recommendations are worth listening to - believe me if a solicitor is not getting through their work fast enough or are causing problems in a chain, the agent is the first one to know and to stop recommending them. Equally, solicitors are more likely to take a call from an agent who is known to them and to try to keep them happy. Imo, it is better to use a local solicitor as they know their own area well, which can be invaluable if problems arise during searches etc. And I am old fashioned enough to think that a face to face meeting with your conveyancer is important!

Yes, that is indeed our experience, well said.

You have in addition the resource here, and look for Lexcel as a way of filtering out Firms:

lawsociety.org.uk

Once you get quotes, do compare them, though remember Firms are not the same, they vary wildly in quality.

Avoid firms who separate out:
- filling in a stamp duty form
- charges to repay a mortgage
- charges if the property has unregistered deeds
- ID charges

Some Firms are really expert and set the standard, and have a desire to impress, while other Firms just muddle along. The factory outfits, well just avoid, the posts on this Site are proof enough.

Good luck.

kingstreet

TheManwiththeStick wrote: »

My question.... are there are disadvantages in using a solicitor whose nearest office is about 50 miles away? Other than not being able to drop in to sign documents etc.

I've never had any problem. I used my favourite solicitor here in Stafford when we moved from Gretna to Middlewich and from Middlewich to here.

I posted everything and the only time we had to go in was to sign the contract papers and the mortgage deed.

AnimalMother86

Salispropnews...hmmm, so that would be the Twitter account of Tim Higham, partner at Trethowan's Solicitors - the same Tim Higham that writes blogs that sound unnervingly similar to the rants of the illustrious timmyt on money saving expert?

Blimey Tim, you've reinvented yourself more times than the artist formerly known as Prince!!! How do you find the time?

timmyt

AnimalMother86 wrote: »

Salispropnews...hmmm, so that would be the Twitter account of Tim Higham, partner at Trethowan's Solicitors - the same Tim Higham that writes blogs that sound unnervingly similar to the rants of the illustrious timmyt on money saving expert?

Blimey Tim, you've reinvented yourself more times than the artist formerly known as Prince!!! How do you find the time?

Ah my kind of question as you know, but sorry, my ID is annoymous to avoid touting.

But to answer OP, yes, in general terms I'd agree with the posts, and also you are on the right track to focus on picking the right solicitor, the regulars on here will know I favour qualification and experience. Just read my posts to point you towards the type of person who make deals faster and smoother.